Golf ball recovery and ball mark repair tool

ABSTRACT

A golf accessory comprises a ball retrieval tool on one end and a ball mark repair tool on the opposite end which facilitates use of both tools without requiring a golfer to bend down. The golf accessory may further comprise telescoping members inside a shaft for extending the golf accessory to various lengths away from a golfer desiring to use the tools on each end thereof.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser.No. 60/668,927 filed Apr. 6, 2005, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference; and provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/686,669 filed Jun. 2, 2006, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to golf accessories, and moreparticularly to a golf accessory including a ball retrieval tool and aball mark repair tool.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sport of golf is enjoyed by persons of nearly all ages. Elderlypersons in particular are able to play golf even when they are no longerable to participate in other physical sports. However, elderly golfersoften have problems with their backs and hips, preventing them frombending over to repair ball marks and retrieve balls without difficulty.Heretofore the available ball mark repair tools have been handheld andrequired the golfer to bend down in order to repair a ball mark on thegreen. In addition to physical challenges associated with using existingball mark repair tools, because the tools are small in size they can bedifficult to find in a golf bag and can create discomfort if they becomedisplaced in a clothing pocket.

In addition to bending over to repair ball marks, a golfer must bendover to retrieve the ball from the cup. Although there are currentlytools on the market to assist golfers in retrieving balls from the cup,each of the available tools must be stored in the golf bag, taking uproom which may be needed for golf clubs, etc.

The present invention comprises an improved golf accessory whichovercomes the limitations of traditional golf accessories currently onthe market. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, thegolf accessory comprises a ball retrieval tool at one end and a ballmark repair tool at the opposite end facilitating the repair of ballmarks and retrieval of golf balls without requiring a golfer to benddown.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, a golfaccessory comprises a shaft having a ball mark repair tool and a ballretrieval tool are secured at opposite ends thereof. A clip or fasteningdevice is secured along the shaft of the golf accessory to facilitatesecuring the golf accessory to the outside of a golf bag instead ofusing interior space thereof. Telescoping members inside the shaft ofthe accessory enable the ball retrieval tool to be extended to variouslengths thereby facilitating the recovery of golf balls from waterhazards.

In addition to repairing ball marks, the ball mark repair tool may beutilized to insert the golf accessory into a ground surface adjacent tothe green when not being used thereby preventing a golfer from having tobend over to retrieve the golf accessory. Often a golfer must take twoclubs to the green, a putter and a wedge, or other similar club used tochip a ball onto the green, which has heretofore been laid on the groundwhen not in use thereby requiring the golfer to bend over to retrievethe unused club. A hook or other support means located on the shaft ofthe golf accessory below the ball retrieval tool may be utilized tosupport the unused club against the golf accessory preventing instead ofplacing the club on the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a golf accessory comprising afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is an environmental view illustrating one aspect of the use ofthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a ninth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is an environmental view illustrating a tenth embodiment of thepresent invention and an additional aspect of the use;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, thereis shown a golf accessory 10 comprising a first embodiment of thepresent invention. The golf accessory 10 comprises shaft 12 having aball mark repair tool 14 at one end and a ball retrieval tool 16 at theother end thereof. An optional spring-loaded clip 18 located near oneend of the golf accessory providing means for supporting the golfaccessory to the outside of a golf bag to preserve space in the golf bagand/or for easier access to the accessory 10.

The ball retrieval tool 16 used in conjunction with the golf accessory10 is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. D475,112 S. The ball retrievaltool 16 may be fabricated from a metal such as aluminum, a polymermaterial, or another suitable material known to those skilled in the artto resist rust or corrosion. The ball mark repair tool 14 used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10 is described in detail in U.S.Pat. No. 6,048,274. If used, the clip 18 facilitates the golf accessoryto be secured snugly over a rim or other similar surface of a golf bag.The proximal end of the clip 18 secures to the shaft 12 by threadedfasteners, an adhesive, or any suitable fastening methods known to thoseskilled in the art of manufacturing golf accessories.

The clip 18 is spring-loaded and may be fabricated from a metal such asaluminum, a polymer material, or another suitable material known tothose skilled in the art to resist rust or corrosion. Alternative to arigid structure the clip 18 may be a flexible member enabling the clip18 to be tightened onto the rim of a golf bag by pressing the distal endof the clip 18 toward the proximal end thereof. The shaft 12 comprisestelescoping members 22 which extend the golf accessory 10 to facilitateballs to be retrieved from water hazards, sand traps, trees, and thelike that cannot be easily accessed by a golfer.

The present invention further includes an optional cover for the ballmark repair tool 14 of the golf accessory 10. The cover may be formedfrom various flexible materials including leather, imitation leather,various plastics, etc. The cover may also be formed from a rigidmaterial such as stainless steel, steel, brass, aluminum, other metals,and various plastics. Either the flexible or the rigid version of thecover may be provided with a protective interior layer formed from asuitable material such as natural or artificial felt, etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second ball retrieval tool 16A that may be used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16Ashown in FIG. 2 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,859 andsold under the trademarked name of The Hide-Away Retriever®.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third ball retrieval tool 16B that may be used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16Bshown in FIG. 3 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,926 andsold under the trademarked name of Gotcha®.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth ball retrieval tool 16C that may be used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16Cshown in FIG. 4 is a generally conical solid structure comprising areceiving aperture 24 on the proximal end thereof for receiving thedistal most telescoping member 22 or receiving the shaft 12 and a cup 26for scooping a ball from a hole. The retrieval tool 16C may befabricated from rubber, a flexible polymer material, or other similarmaterial known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing golfaccessories.

FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth ball retrieval tool 16D that may be used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16Dshown in FIG. 5 is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 306,058.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth ball retrieval tool 16E that may be used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16Eshown in FIG. 6 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,352.

FIG. 7 illustrates a seventh ball retrieval tool 16F that may be used inconjunction with the golf accessory 10. The ball retrieval tool 16Fshown in FIG. 7 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,189.

FIG. 8 illustrates a golf accessory 40 comprising an alternateembodiment of the present invention. Many of the component parts of thegolf accessory 40 are substantially identical in construction andfunction to component parts of the golf accessory 10 illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 7 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith.Such identical component parts are designated in FIG. 8 with the samereference numerals utilized above in the description of the golfaccessory 10, but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′)designation.

The golf accessory 40 differs from the golf accessory 10 of FIGS. 1through 7 in that the golf accessory 40 does not include telescopingmembers. Instead the golf accessory 40 comprises a shaft 12′ with a ballmark repair tool 14′ at and a ball retrieval tool 16′ at each endthereof. Although the golf accessory 40 is illustrated using the ballretrieval tool 14C shown in FIG. 4, the golf accessory 40 may also beused in conjunction with any of the ball retrieval tools 16 illustratedin FIGS. 1 through 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a golf accessory 50 comprising a variation of thegolf accessory 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 and describedhereinabove in connection therewith. The golf accessory 50 issubstantially identical in construction and function to the golfaccessory 10, except that the golf accessory 50 comprises only onetelescoping member 22. The golf accessory 50 is illustrated with theball mark repair tool 14 inserted into a ground surface 52. The golfaccessory 50 comprising only one telescoping member 22 results in thegolf accessory 50 having a more compact and lightweight shaft 12 forease of use by golfers having back problems.

FIG. 10 illustrates the golf accessory 10 having a handle 60 with anoptional flexible golf-bag engaging member 62 secured thereto. Thehandle 60 may be fabricated of rubber, plastic, or other similarmaterials suitable for a handle or grip application. If used, theflexible golf-bag engaging member 62 may be fabricated from materialssuch as plastic, metal or any other hard but pliable material known tothose skilled in the art of manufacturing sporting accessories.

During the play of golf, a golf bag is generally supported on a golfcart which the golfer must leave in order to access the greens of thegolf course. The golf accessory of the present invention is carriedalong with a putter by a golfer as the golfer approaches the puttinggreen in anticipation of retrieving the ball from the cup and thepossibility that a ball mark will need repair. As shown in FIG. 9, thegolf accessory of the present invention may be inserted into a groundsurface adjacent to the green when not being used thereby preventing agolfer from having to bend over to retrieve the golf accessory. Inaddition to retrieving a golf ball from a cup, the golf accessory of thepresent invention as shown having a plurality of telescoping members maybe used to retrieve balls from water hazards, sand traps, trees, and thelike.

FIG. 11 illustrates the golf accessory 40 having a golf club leanedthereagainst and supported by the clip 18. By utilizing the golfaccessory 40 to support a golf club while not is use, the golfer is notrequired to bend over to retrieve the club from the ground surface 52.

FIG. 12 illustrates the golf accessory 70 comprising a variation of thegolf accessory 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10 and describedhereinabove in connection therewith. The golf accessory 70 issubstantially identical in construction and function to the golfaccessory 10, except that the golf accessory 70 comprises a supportmember 72 for supporting a golf club when not in use in lieu ofsupporting the club on the clip 18. The support member 72 surrounds theshaft 12 and may be collapsed when not in use for more compact storageof the golf accessory 70.

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative to the support member 72 to be usedin conjunction with the golf accessory. An indentation 78 is formed inthe shaft 12 below the ball retrieval tool 16 for supporting a golf clubleaned thereagainst.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1. A golfing accessory for use in the game of golf comprising: a shafthaving first and second ends; a ball retrieval apparatus secured at thefirst end of the shaft for retrieving golf balls; a ball mark repairtool secured at the second end of the shaft from the ball retrieval toolfor repairing ball marks.
 2. The golfing accessory according to claim 1further including means for supporting the accessory on the exterior ofa golf bag.
 3. The golfing accessory according to claim 1 wherein themeans for supporting the accessory on the exterior of a golf bagcomprises a spring loaded clip.
 4. The golfing accessory according toclaim 2 wherein the means for supporting the accessory on the exteriorof a golf bag comprises a flexible golf-bag engaging member.
 5. Thegolfing accessory according to claim 1 wherein the shaft comprises atleast one telescoping member which is normally retracted to facilitatestorage and transportation of the accessory and which is extendable tofacilitate retrieval of balls at various distances.
 6. The golfingaccessory according to claim 1 wherein the means for supporting a clubleaned against the golfing accessory comprises a support member securedto the shaft of the golfing accessory.
 7. The golfing accessoryaccording to claim 1 wherein the means for supporting a club leanedagainst the golfing accessory is an indentation formed in the shaft ofthe golfing accessory below the ball retrieval tool.
 8. The golfingaccessory according to claim 1 wherein the ball retrieval apparatuscomprises a conical structure having a first relatively large diameterend dimensioned to receive a golf ball therethrough and a secondrelatively small diameter end for preventing passing therethrough. 9.The golfing accessory according to claim 1 wherein the ball retrievalapparatus comprises a circular member for receiving a golf ball thereinand a spring loaded member extending into the circular member forpreventing a golf ball from passing through the circular member.
 10. Thegolfing accessory according to claim 1 wherein the ball retrievalapparatus comprises a circular ring dimensioned to receive and support agolf ball thereon.
 11. The golfing accessory according to claim 1further including the means for supporting a golf club leaned againstthe shaft of the golfing accessory.